Swansea City star Leon Britton signs new Liberty Stadium contract

LEON Britton has set his sights on 500 Swansea City appearances after signing a new contract at the Liberty Stadium.

The long-serving midfield star has agreed a 12-month extension to his current deal, meaning he is now tied to Swansea until the summer of 2016.

And Britton, who made his Swansea debut more than ten years ago, is confident he has plenty more Premier League miles on the clock.

Britton has played 420 Swansea games since Brian Flynn brought him to Wales on loan from West Ham back in 2002.

And the 30-year-old said: "The target for me has always been 500 appearances — that would really be something special for me.

"I'd like to think I can keep performing regularly in the first team for a few more seasons yet.

"It's probably for others to say, but personally I believe I am playing the best football of my career.

"I've gained more experience as I've got older and I believe the Premier League has made me a better player.

"I think it suits me because it's not such a physical league. There is only minimal contact allowed these days and, not being the biggest of lads, it does help!''

Fans' favourite Britton has been a first-team regular almost throughout his stint as a Swansea player.

He quit the club in 2009 after becoming frustrated with life under Paulo Sousa, signing for Sheffield United on a free transfer after his contract in SA1 expired.

But six unhappy months later, the Londoner was back in a Swansea shirt thanks to Brendan Rodgers.

He helped the club win promotion to the Premier League that spring, and has since proved himself a high-class performer even at the top level.

"I'm delighted to sign the new deal," Britton added.

"I know I've said it before, but I would love nothing more than to finish my career here.

"It's been my life for the last ten years, apart from the six-month sabbatical at Sheffield United, of course, and there's no other place I'd rather be playing my football. I never expected things to turn out the way they have when I returned two years ago.

"The club were in the Championship at the time and there was certainly no guarantee of promotion.

"But we went up into the Premier League, have established ourselves in our second season and we are now looking forward to our first major cup final," he added.

It is not all good news for Britton this week, for he is doubtful for next Saturday's home clash with Queens Park Rangers with the ankle injury which forced him off at Upton Park last weekend.

Swansea are confident he has not done any serious damage, though the club are awaiting the results of a scan.

"It's swollen and bruised but it feels okay," Britton said.

First-choice goalkeeper Michel Vorm is also battling to be fit for the Rangers clash.

The Dutch international has not joined up with his national squad for tomorrow's friendly against Italy because of the knee injury which has kept him out of Swansea's last two matches.

2 comments

It was partly Sousa, partly the money and partly that after nearly 10 years he felt he had achieved all he could at the Swans. At the time we had just finished 8th in our first Championship campaign (and then lost two of our best players), most of us probably felt it was going to be very difficult to repeat that.
Of course he was wrong about that and thankfully for all of us he realised his mistake and returned.

"He quit the club in 2009 after becoming frustrated with life under Paulo Sousa"
And because Sheffield Utd offered him a lot more money. Let's not forget that.Leon's a little diamond, but to blame his departure entirely on Sousa as so many often do is wrong.